Environmental Planning

Programs

Quiet Pavement Program

A three-year, $34 million project to surface about 115 miles of Phoenix-area freeways with rubberized asphalt is working toward a smoother ride for motorists and quieter neighborhoods for those who live adjacent to the roads.

The first areas to receive the “quiet pavement” were on the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway from Union Hills Drive to 31st Avenue, and on the Loop 101 Pima Freeway from 21st Avenue to Tatum Boulevard and from Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard to Mountain View Road. State Route 51 was resurfaced from Shea Boulevard to Bell Road. The entire Loop 101 and SR 51 freeways plus sections of Interstate 10, Interstate 17 and the Loop 202 Red Mountain and Santan freeways will also receive new rubberized asphalt surfaces.

What Is Rubberized Asphalt?

Rubberized asphalt has been used for more than 20 years to resurface highways and city streets in Arizona when pavement surfaces reach their normal life expectancy. While it helped reduce the disposal of used tires, it recently has been recognized for its reduction of traffic noise.

Description of Rubberized Asphalt

Rubberized asphalt consists of regular asphalt paving mixed with “crumb rubber" which is ground, used tires that would otherwise be discarded or take up space in landfills. Used tires are processed by separating the casings, fabric and steel. The extracted rubber then is ground to the consistency of ground coffee. Rubberized asphalt has the benefit of being smoother and quieter. Noise readings have shown the rubberized asphalt generally reduces tire noise by an average of 4 decibels.

Approximately 1,500 tires are used for every lane-mile of rubberized paving, which can put a major dent in the 2 million used tires that are generated annually in Maricopa County. Those used tires usually end up in landfills or in storage. Landfill space is at a premium, and tires in storage are a fire threat.

Rubberized Asphalt Is Temperature Sensitive

Rubberized asphalt cannot be applied during cold weather or very hot weather. The concrete pavement surface needs to be between 85 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit for the material to adhere properly. So rubberized asphalt can only be applied in the spring and fall in the Phoenix area, from March 15 to May 31 and from September 1 to November 15. Prior to application, contractors must repair pavement cracks, chips and joints and prepare the concrete surface for the rubberized asphalt overlay.

Financing

The Quiet Pavement Program was developed by ADOT in cooperation with the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) and area cities. It will be completed over a three-year period and funded using $34 million from other regional projects.

Driving Valley Freeways this time of year? You might hear about or even experience lane restrictions because of rubberized asphalt paving. "Why," you ask, "does ADOT schedule rubberized asphalt paving between March and May when so many of us are out and about enjoying the gorgeous weather?" Full story ...